Multi-Engine Rating
A Multi-Engine Land (MEL) rating allows a pilot to operate as pilot-in-command of an aircraft with more than one engine.
Multi-Engine rated pilots will experience the remarkable improvement in aircraft performance capability along with an increase in speed, power, and rate of climb. Managing the complexity and workload of a multi-engine aircraft is both exhilarating and rewarding.
The multi-engine land rating is an “add-on” to an existing single-engine land private, commercial, or ATP certificate. For this rating, both VFR and IFR operations will be emphasized. There are no minimum time requirements for the multi-engine land rating; however you will need an instructor endorsement for flight and ground training prior to taking the checkride. There is no written exam, only an oral exam and practical checkride are required.
While a multi-engine rating can be added to a private pilot certificate, in most cases it makes more sense to wait until a pilot has a commercial pilot certificate and instrument rating as this will save the pilot a substantial amount of money in the long run.
What are the prerequisites?
- Pilot must have a current FAA medical
- Pilot must provide proof of citizenship (Passport or Birth Certificate) or TSA approval
- Pilot must already be a single engine private pilot
- Pilot should be current (Not required, however additional hours may be required if the pilot is not current)
Multi-Engine Training
Trade Winds’ Multi-Engine training curriculum teaches the aerodynamic differences between the single and the multi-engine plane and provides the proper instruction needed to pass the multi-engine check-ride. While there are no specific hour requirements for adding a multi-engine rating to a certificate, typically most pilots will require about 10 hours of flight training to reach the proficiency required to pass the practical test. The FAA requires training in the following specific areas:
- Preflight preparation
- Preflight procedures
- Airport operations
- Takeoffs, landings, and go-arounds
- Performance maneuvers
- Navigation
- Slow flight and stalls
- Emergency operations
- Multi-engine operations
- High-altitude operations
- Post flight procedures
As with all flight training, preparing for a multi-engine rating requires both ground and flight training. The ground information covers specifics including aircraft systems, principles of flight (normal and single-engine), aerodynamics, and weight & balance. The flight portion consists of normal and emergency multi-engine aircraft operations and maneuvers. American Flight Schools is home to a great multi-engine trainer, the P2006T Tecnam.
How long will it take?
The time duration of obtaining a multi-engine rating depends on student schedule and proficiency. Flying often, studying frequently and efficiently and being prepared for each flight lesson will ensure that the multi-engine rating is achieved at a lower cost and within the minimal timeframe. The average amount of time to obtain the rating is about two weeks.